Awards Luncheon Honors Alumni, Volunteers

Cuesta College is set to honor eight individuals on April 13 at the 2018 Foundation Awards Luncheon. Four Cuesta College alumni will be recognized, along with four volunteers who have
served the college and community selflessly in various ways. The event will take place
from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., on the college’s San Luis Obispo Campus in building 5400,
room 5401. Tickets to attend are $20 per person; RSVP by March 30 by calling the Cuesta
College Foundation Office at (805) 546-3279 or visiting bit.ly/ccawardsluncheon.

2018 Honored Alumni

Now in its 30th year, the Honored Alumni awards were established in 1989 to recognize
outstanding professional achievements and service of former Cuesta College students.
Since that time, more than 50 Cougars have received this prestigious honor.More information
on Cuesta College’s Honored Alumni program is available online.

Heidi Harmon* graduated with a degree in early childhood education from Cuesta College,
followed by a BA in liberal studies from Cal Poly. For many years, Mayor Harmon worked
as an early childhood educator in SLO. She became more and more involved in the community,
and eventually became the director of the climate advocacy group SLO 350 and a point
person with Protect SLO - Stop Oil Trains. In 2016, Harmon was elected mayor of San
Luis Obispo City on the platform of being a reform-minded leader, passionate about
keeping the voice and concern of local residents at the forefront of everything she
does.

“Getting the broad education I received at Cuesta is in many ways the perfect academic
background for being a mayor,” said Mayor Harmon. “Mayors are so many different things
to so many different people. Everything from government to psychology to my creative
art skills have come in handy as a mayor.”

*pictured above, far left

Tom O’Malley | City of Atascadero Mayor | Attended Cuesta: 1968-1970

A third-generation resident of Atascadero, it seems only fitting that Tom O’Malley*,
prolifically involved in the community and local government, would one day become
the city’s mayor. Serving in the role since 2012, the Cuesta graduate has spent decades
in public service. He is a current member of the Atascadero City Schools Committee,
Atascadero Tourism Business Improvement District Board, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce,
and more. In addition, O’Malley owns and operates the Portola Inn in Atascadero and
is a retired Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He studied business at Pepperdine
University and then graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from UCSB, and
earned a Master’s Degree in Education specializing in counseling and guidance from
Cal Poly. While at Cuesta, Mayor O’Malley was the Student Body President and Alpha
Gamma Sigma honor society president.

“My experience at Cuesta College taught me the value of professional relationships,”
said Mayor O’Malley. “Community colleges are like small towns. Both are part of an
extended family that supports its members throughout life and nurtures the lives and
happiness of us all.”

Maria Spaeth* is a first generation Mexican-American Latina, born in Sacramento. When
she was three-years-old, Spaeth’s family relocated to Mexico. Returning at age 15,
her family became farm workers in Paso Robles. Unable to speak English, Spaeth nonetheless
enrolled at Paso Robles High School and then, in 1994, at Cuesta College. After graduating
with Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and then double-majoring at Sonoma State
University in Spanish and Latin American History, Spaeth launched her teaching career
in Los Angeles with a passion to serve underrepresented. In 2007, Spaeth was named
Teacher of the Year by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Currently a 2nd grade
teacher at Grover Beach Elementary School, Spaeth works with many low-income, Spanish-speaking
students, and encourages them to follow their dreams, just as she did.

“As an English learner, Cuesta helped me be courageous and take risks,” said Spaeth.
“I learned that if I wanted to make my dreams come true, I needed to take risks, participate,
and ask for help if needed it. What I learned at Cuesta has helped me be the elementary
school teacher I am now.”

The youngest Cuesta College Honored Alumni Award recipient ever, Dr. Sarah Ashley*
accomplished incredible things since graduating from Cuesta in 2003 at the age of
14-years-old. In 2008, Dr. Ashley earned a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Santa Cruz and
then a Medical Doctorate Degree from U.C. Davis in 2014. Now working in the Department
of Emergency Medicine at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dr. Ashley
is a Global Health and Leadership Fellow. In 2015, Dr. Ashley enlisted in the United
States Army Reserve and became a battalion surgeon with the US Army Reserve, 450th
Civil Affairs Battalion. Dr. Ashley is also a third generation Cuesta College graduate.
The Templeton native has deep roots in San Luis Obispo County, and credits Cuesta
College for her ability to branch out.

“Cuesta was really the place where I started to transition from being a kid to becoming
an adult,” said Dr. Ashley. “It gave me an early appreciation for people in our community who
work, raise children, attend school and contribute to their community all at the same
time, which shapes the way I appreciate and understand my patients and community now.”

*pictured above, far right

2018 Volunteer Award Recipients

Howard Carroll | Dr. Frank Martinez Superintendent/President’s Award

First awarded in 2001, this award recognizes the accomplishments of a community volunteer
who has contributed time and talent generously, working in partnership with Cuesta
faculty or staff, resulting in an achievement that might not have happened otherwise.

Longtime friend of the late Harold J. Miossi, Howard Carroll today serves as the Miossi
Trust executor. In that role, Carroll has been instrumental in supporting various
areas of Cuesta College. A lifelong resident of San Luis Obispo County, Miossi was
passionate about many things, including art and education. Today, the college benefits
from Miossi’s financial support - and Carroll’s strategic advanced estate planning
prowess - in many ways. In 2014, the Foundation received a $250,000 grant to enhance
the role of the college’s art gallery for both the students and the community. Today,
the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery is making a name for itself locally and beyond, hosting
exhibits from artists all around the globe. The Trust is also the lead sponsor of
the annual College Night event, bringing representatives from 55 universities and
colleges across the country onto the San Luis Obispo Campus to speak with local high
school students and their parents about how to make informed decisions about college.
And last year, the Trust pledged $1 million toward the fundraising effort to extend
the Cuesta College Promise Scholarship to include a second year of fee-free education.
The donation is the largest single gift to the campaign thus far.

Kailey Schwabenland | John Schaub Student Volunteer Award

First awarded in 2001, this award recognizes a student whose community volunteer work
best exemplifies the high standards established by the college’s first dean of students,
whose trailblazing work in creating programs for student success has helped thousands
of students achieve their goals.

Kailey Schwabenland volunteered many hours of her time in order to launch a Spanish
Club at Cuesta College. Thanks to her efforts, students and community members now
have a forum to celebrate and appreciate the Spanish language, Spanish-speaking cultures,
language learning, and the traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. The club provides
both Spanish-language learners and native Spanish speakers a sense of community on
campus, and is an inclusive space for students and community members from a wide variety
of backgrounds. Schwabenland is also an embedded tutor at Cuesta, helping other students
study for the course Anthropology 201.

Stan and Janice House | Betty Nielsen Volunteer of the Year Award

First awarded in 1995, this award is given in memory of Cuesta College Trustee Betty
Nielsen, considered the epitome of volunteerism. She served the community and the
college selflessly for many years as an exemplary volunteer in several capacities.

Stan and Janice House have volunteered on the Cuesta College Athletics Booster Club
for many years, which is instrumental to the success and vitality of the college’s
Athletics Department. The House’s have played key roles in various fundraisers, including
the launch of “Don’t Cook Tonight.” Stan helped launched the monthly fundraiser, which
has raised nearly $20,000 over the years for the Athletic Department by way of selling
locally prepared BBQ chicken and ribs. Janice assists with the ticket sales, orchestrating
the monthly event and volunteer staff. Stan has also served as the vice president
of the Athletic Booster Club Board. Janice is a former Cuesta College employee and
retired from the college as the director of information technology.